Inclosed switch



July 19, 1932. H. .1. HAMMERLY INLOSED SWITCH Filed March 2, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l y mm arly,

M ...www

July 19, 1.932. H. J. HAMMERLY INCLOSED SWITCH 'l `Filed Maron 2, 1951 INVENTOR INGLOSED SWITCH Filed March 2, 1931 s sheets-sheet r:5

' INVENTOR Herm an Zmmczly,

Z `{fr-:Y

' of this character in which the quick-make Patented .july .19, 1.932

UNITED STATES PATENr OFFICE HERMAN' J'. HAHME'RLY, OF WALLINGFOBD, CONI'NECTICUT, ASSIGNOB TO THE TRUI- BULL ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY,A OF PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT, A

CORPORATION OF CONT mcnosnn swxrcn applicati@ mea laren 2, 1931. 4serial no. 519329.

within the box. Such a construction has the advantage that a number of the switches may be mounted side by side close together in a comparatively small space. One diiliculty of former constructions of this type, however, 'has been the diiiiculty` of providing a construction in whichthe operating handle had suicient throw for effective action.-

One object of my invention, therefore, is`

to provide a construction of. this character in which the quick-make and break mechanism .has a maximum angle of operation with a comparatively limited movement of the handle. i

Another object is to provide a dependable and rugged mechanism suitable for embodiment in a switch of the type set` forth.

Another object is to provide a construction of this character in which the quickmake and break mechanism is mounted independently'of .the cover.

Another obj ectis'to provide a construction of this character in which the handle is mounted on and removable with the cover without disturbing the switch per se. Another object is to provide a construction of this character in whichthe line ter.- minals and associated parts are mounted in one art of the box and are not exposed'when the x is opened for access to the protecting fuses.

Another obj ect is toprovide a construction and break mechanism isvsupported as a unit independently of the res't of the switch.

Another object is to provide a construc-4 tion of this character in which the cover is locked when the switch is closed and in which the switch" is normally locked in the open circuit osition when the cover'is open. l

Another object is to provide a construction'. of the character described in which 'the switch per se, the snap action mechanism, and

the cover and actuating handle may be independently assembled, insertable and removable as units.

Another object is to provide means for the entire removal of the cover and operating handle to facilitate inspection and wiring of the switch.

In the form shown herein the construction l embodies a suitable form of quick-make break mechanism mounted within a box having a two part cover, the upper portion of which in the form'shown, is hinged to the lowerportion and carries the operating handle. The quick-make and break mechanism is carried v-by a bracket mounted in the box alongside of the contact mechanism. A special form of toggle and link mechanism connects the quick-make and break mechanism with the actuating handle. The details and method ofy operation will be understood from the following specification and its accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a front view of a switch embodying my invention, the .cover being broken away and the switch proper being shown in dot and dash lines'.

Fig. 2 is a-:vertical sectional view on the plane of the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, the4 operating mechanism being shown in the position which it occupies when the switch is olf sov that the fuse protecting cover may be opened.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the plane 'of the line 3--3 of Fig. 1, but showing the cover `and operating handle.

Fig. 4 is an kexploded perspective view showing the quick-break mechanism and the parts connecting it to the handle.

Fig. 5 is a side view and section showing the quick-make and break and actuatingmechanism in the parts which they occupy when the circuit is open.

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the-parts in th'e closed circuit position.

Fig. 7 is a side view taken from the o posite side and showing the connections om the handle to the crank shaft.` 0

The box 10 maybe of any suitable type and has a cover` formed in two parts. The lower part 11 is secured or fixed 1n place on the box in any suitable manner, for in-` ber of which contains the contact mechanism or switch per se indicated by the dot and dash lines at 15. The upper part contains the load terminal connections 16 so that the protective fuses 17 are accessible when the upper part 13 of the cover is open. v

Obviously an actual partition, (not shown) might be provided between the upper and lower chambers of the switch box so as to make access to the switch contacts more diilicult. A spring latch 18 is preferably provided to hold the upper part of the cover closed. i

A crank shaft 20 is suitably connected to the movable switch member for actuating the same in the usual manner. This crank shaft is pivotally supported, for instance, by having one end 2l pivoted in a wall of the box and the other end 22 is pivoted in a bracket 23. This bracket preferably has a bottom flange 24 which, is detachably securedto thebottom of the box, for instance by a number of screws 25.

The quick-make and break mechanism may be of any suitable t pe and inthe form shown includes an oscillatin disc 26 which is mounted on the crank sha t pin 22. This disc has an arm 27 to which is hinged one end of the rod 28. The other end of this rod is guided *in a forked bracket 29 whichis secured to the side plate 23. A spring 30 'on the rod 28 is interposed between the bracket and the actuating disc 26 to provide the necessary powerfor the snap action. Disc 26 has lugs 31 and 32 which contact with an arm of the crank shaft 20 in the usual manner. A washer 33 on the shaft end 22 serves asa bearing in the wall of the side plate 23. Spacer washers 34 and 35 may be employed to locate the disc 26 at the proper distance from'the plate 23. Y

The hub of the quick-make and break mechanism is madeup of the washers 36, 34, 35 and 37 which are secured together by rivets 38 which pass through slots 39 in the disc 26 so as to afford the necessary lost motion connection between the hub and the disc 26. The arm 40 constitutes an extension from the hub of the quick-make and break mechanism which is connected to the handle 41 'by special link and interlocking mechamsm.

The handle is mounted on a shaft 42 withi in a pocket 43 which is secured in the cover engaged in the hole 47 of link 48. Link 49,

is hinged to link 48 at the point 50 and hinged to the arm 40 by rivet 5 1. The pin or stud 50 is guided in a slot 52 in the plate 23. A crossbar 54 which is secured to the side plate 23 serves as a reinforcement and also as a guide for the link 48.

When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2 it will be seen that the fuse protecting cover 13 can be opened by releasing the catch 18 as there is nothing to obstruct the swinging of the link 48 around the pin 50. When the fuse cover is open, however, it is not possible to close the switch. This requires that the cover be first closed to the position shown in Fig. 2. T o close the circuit the handle 41 is raised upwardly which action rocks the shaft 42 and the crank arm 46 so as to thrust the link 48 downward as viewed in Fig. 2.

The pin 50 is guided in the slot 52 and the lower end of the link 49 rotates the arm 40 and the hub of the quick-make and break mechanism until the spring 30 passes the center line and acts to throw the switch to the closed circuit position with the actuating mechanism in the position shown in Fig. 6. This brings the pin 55 into the interlocking slot 56 which does not interfere with the opening of the switch but does interlock the handle and consequently the cover section 13 so that the cover can not be opened for access to the fuses until the handle 41 has been operated to open the circuit. It will thus be seen that the operator is protected against accident.

In this construction it will be seen that the quick-make and break mechanism is, y

essary so that by removing the cover and' handle vand its shaft 42, access may be had to the entire interior ofthe box l`by anyone authorized to do so. In this construction, when the cover is removed, the switch mechanism per se can be removed without disturbing the quick-make and break mechamsm.

The two bars or link members 48 and 49 constitute a'folding or hinged link which,

together with the guide slot 52, produces a toggle action by means of which a much greater switch throwing movement is possible.

In the drawings I have shown the operating handle mounted on what `I have called the lower cover but it will be readily apparent that the handle may be mounted on the other cover or the covers may be of different proportions as to length 'for certain purposes. p

For satisfactory operation,l however,` -the relation of the operating lever, the switch crank and the connecting links should be maintained substantially as shown and described.

It is also obvious that, if so desired, the relative positions of the switch and the fuse receiving parts may be reversed so that the respective parts are in the opposite ends of the box.

I claim:

1. An inclosed switch comprising a box having a hinged cover, a switch operating crank mounted inthe box, an actuating handle hinged to said cover, snap action mechanism wlthin the box, and means of connection with said handle including a jointed link and means for guiding the joint of the link whereby said cover may be opened or closed without disconnecting said handle from said snap action mechanism.

2. An inclosed switch comprising a box having a hinged cover, a switch operating crank mounted in the box, an actuating handle carried by the hinged cover and movable therewith and independently` thereof, snap action mechanism within the box having means of connection with said handle including a rock shaft and a jointed link and means for guiding the joint of the link, said cover being adapt-ed to be opened or closed without disconnecting said actuating handle from said snap action mechanism.

. 3. An inclosed switch including a box having a hinged cover, a handle hinged to the cover, snap action mechanism mounted within the box including an oscillating hub having a projecting arm, and a folding link having a sliding support within the box and connected at one end to said arm and at the other end to said handle, said cover being adapted to be opened without disconnecting said handle from said snap action Imechanism. 4. An inclosed switch including a box having a hinged cover, a handle hinged to the cover, snap action mechanism mounted .within the box including an oscillating hub having a projectingl arm, a shaft carried by the cover connected to the handle and having an oifset crank pin and a folding link having a sliding support within the box and connectedat one end to said arm and at the other end to said crank pin said cover being adapted to be opened or closed without disconnecting said handle from said snap action mechanism.

5. An inclosed switch including a box having a hinged cover, a plate mounted in the box, nick-make and breakv mechanism supporte by saidI platesaid plate having a guide slot, a jointed link having a lost motion means of connection .with said quick-make and break mechanism and having a hinge pin guided in said slot, a handle hinged to thc cover, and means" of connection between said handle and said link. I

6. An inclosed switch including a box having a hinged cover, a plate detachably mounted in the box, quick-,make and break mechanism supported by said plate, said plate having a guide `slot and a shoulder, a link having a lost motion means of connection with said quick-make and break mechanism and having a hinge pin guided in said slot and having a projection adapted to engage said shoulder, a handle hinged to the cover, and means of connection between said handle and said link. v

7. An inclosed switch including a box, a plate detachably supported in the box and having a guide slot, quick-make andl break mechanism mounted on said plate, a jointed link having a pin guided in said slot, lost motion means of connection between one end of said link and said quick-make and break mechanism, a cover hinged to said box, and a handle hinged to said cover and detachably connected to one end of said link.

8. An inclosed switch including a box` quick-make and break mechanism mounte in the box, a plate supported in the box having a guide slot, a jointed link having a pin guided in said slot, lost motion means of connection between one end of said link and said quick-make and break mechanism, a cover hinged to said box and a handle hinged to said cover and havingan extension shaft detachably connected to one end of said link.

9. An inclosed switch including a box, switch mechanism mounted in one end ofthe box, protecting fuses mounted in the other end of the box, la cover for said box including two parts, one part being fixed to the box and covering the switch mechanism and the other part being hinged to permit inspection of the fuses7 an actuating handle hinged to the hinged part of the cover, snap action mechanism permanently supported in the box independently of the cover for actuating the swltch, a jointed link having-one end permanently connected lto the snap action mechanism and the other end, permanently connected to the actuating handle, and means coacting with said link to prevent the opening of the hinged part of the cover when the switch mechanism is in the on position.

10. An inclosed switch including a box having switch mechanism mounted in one end and protecting fuses mounted in the other end, a cover for said box formed of two parts, one part covering the switch mechanism and the other part covering the fuses, an actuating handle hinged to one part of the cover,

ysnap action mechanism for actuating the HERMAN J. HAMMERLY.

when the switch is in t-he4 f lIO 

